My name is Makayla Vehorn, and I am an ESL teacher at Intrax San Diego. I absolutely love teaching English because it gives me joy, satisfaction, and the opportunity to meet people from around the world.

“Tipping” for a service is not common practice everywhere around the world, but it is an accepted part of American culture. In fact, in many business transactions tipping is expected. When, whom, and how much to tip someone can be confusing for people who have been doing it all their life. It can be even more confusing for someone new to America. Here are some “tips” to help you when it is time to “tip.”

You have had a wonderful time in America and improved your English skills at Intrax. You were able to speak English every day in the Speaking Strand, practice your vocabulary and learn new grammar in Integrated Skills, and used what you learned in everyday life. But now, you’ve graduated and are headed back home. Some students find it difficult to continue their studies in their home country or no longer use what they have learned. We know how important it is to keep your English sharp! Here are some ways to use it so you don’t lose it.

Once you arrive in the United States and get settled in your homestay, residence club or apartment, it’s time for your new student orientation and first day of school. Don’t worry—it shouldn’t be hard, and it isn’t scary.

English is the most widespread language in the world, more spoken and written than any other language. Over 400 million people speak English as a first language, surpassed only by the number of people who speak Chinese—and many more people speak English as a second or third language: up to 2 billion. At this moment, roughly 1 billion people around the world are learning English.

Want to improve your English vocabulary? That’s a great idea. For basic communication, knowing vocabulary is even more important than knowing grammar. The more words you know, the easier it is to express your thoughts, feelings, and ideas.

But improving your English vocabulary is not as simple as memorizing lists or looking up words in the dictionary. Why not? Because that is not enough to make sure that you remember the words you learn. If you don’t work with and use your new words, you will probably forget them pretty quickly.